Wednesday, September 03, 2008

the combination

Yep. It is that time of year again. When I start thinking about the sweaters to make for my kids for the Christmas card photo. Last year was perhaps the last year. My mother gives me that look like....are you sure you want to put Charlie (who is soon to be thirteen....yikes) in a sweater handmade by his mommy...look. And maybe last year should have been the last year. But I can't seem to let it go. I have been doing it for eleven years....it is just sort of part of us now. The problem is, patterns for that age group are just so hard to find. I found the yarn I want to use. And it is so lovely! All tweedy, and cool, yes? I plan on using the light grey for Andrew. The charcoal grey for Charlie. And I am thinking vests. Tweedy, cool vests. Yes?I couldn't find a pattern for Libby either. So I pulled a couple combinations together.

56 comments:

I am so excited about your Christmas sweaters, you must not give up this tradition. I think it is wonderful idea. Even if it does begin to drive them crazy when they are older, I think they will still cherish the fact that you do this.

I love your sweater ideas for Libby, I keep going back to that Mini-Boden one too.

I think if your children still sit for the photo, they most definitely will do the handmade-with-love sweaters. The colors you've selected are also very "mature." And, guys do wear sweaters, after all, don't they? Mine doesn't anymore, but it's never really cold enough here. My sister did knit him a hat a couple of years ago, gave it to him as a joke because it was her first and didn't exactly come out "normal." He used it hunting and loved it, said it was the warmest hat he ever had. Follow your maternal and feminine instincts. Your children will remember all these moments fondly for years to come. And I can't wait to see your daughter's, designed by you!

You should keep up the tradition ...last year's sweaters were so lovely, and I don't think children are ever too old for hand knit sweaters! I'm a college student and have a friend who wore the Cobblestone sweater his mom made him around campus all last winter! And I still love when my mom makes me knitted things! Good luck .. the colors you've chosen are just lovely!

I just cast on for sweaters for my boys this morning. And last year I made Cobblestones, too. Great minds think alike, as my grandmother always said. I must confess, though, every year I question myself on this. Last year I didn't get them done in time to take pictures outside. This year I had the yarn before Labor Day, but it was 50 degrees this morning - did I mess up again? Ach! Next year I'm casting on in July...

Have you seen Dr G's Memory Vest? http://throughtheloops.typepad.com/designs/2008/05/dr-gs-memory-ve.html

I am knitting it for my dad now and it seems like it could be easily adapted for a smaller body. Coupled with the Mini Boden sweater that we all have our eye on (please consider sharing your pattern notes!), I think you'd have a very stylish trio!

Oh I sincerely hope you continue to knit your kids sweaters for your Christmas card... and I don't care what age they are, they should indulge you and wear them, even if only for the photo shoot! But as nice as you knit I would think even your teenage son would be proud to wear a sweater his mom knit. I can't wait to see how they turn out.

I cannot wait to see your christmas sweaters this year. the colors are sooooooo fabulous. last year's sweaters blew me out of the water. so I can't wait to see this round. the sketch for Libby's looks outstanding.

well, I wasn't fortunate enough to be aware of your blog last year, Leslie ... but let me just say this: those sweaters are top notch. Anything similar in J Crew (if you could find it) would be absolutely fitting on a young boy your son's age. I can't imagine they are too old for it. Of course, I can't imagine ever being to old to wear something so perfectly handsome. carry on!

I'm excited to see that you are going to do the 'sweater card' photo again! I think it's a great idea. Milk it as long as you can! :D Love the yarn and excited to see you 'vision' for Libby come off the needles - it looks like it's going to be great!

I'm sad to see summer end but I truly love fall! Bring it on! The best time of year to knit if you ask me

these will be great! i'm sure the kids will sit for you just fine, though i'd like to see the pics along the waythough ...i'm sure i'd get all kinds of faces! i usually get one out of twenty shots that is usable. attitude somehow manages to slip in! but that began around 16 :) a photo like yours will be treasured down the road!

The sweaters/vests will be gorgeous -- I doubt they'll ever outgrow your sweaters (although they might claim they have, occasionally). You might have to switch to finer gauges as they get older. As they age, you should keep Jamesey from Knitty in mind. :)

Are you joking? You make some of the most gorgeous, useable, yummy looking Christmas sweaters. Your kids will adore you someday for this huge labor of love EVERY YEAR! What a SuperMom. Don't give up now - you're entering some great years of sweaters & vests.

I love all your sweaters. I can't see what you come up with! I think your totally right that this age group is poorly represented in the pattern spectrum. Have you seen these http://www.mariegracedesigns.com/photos/original_patterns/index.html?

The tweed yarn looks beautiful and should make the vests look very grown up. I am sure your son will still wear them, otherwise he might feel left out if you didnt knit him one. I still knit my 14 year old son sweaters, perhaps 1 a year and if he doesnt wear them then someone else will. I cannot wait to see how they all turn out.

Oh I am so excited! I think it is just the coolest that you do this every year and the sweaters are always beautiful and perfect for all of your kids, not cheesy or tacky or 'one-of-those-sweaters-your-mommy-knit-you-for-the-x-mas-card' at all! I love it, love the vest idea too!